Newmarket Saturday: Reports, reaction and free video replays

Dream run in the Palace House Stakes

Live In The Dream set what appeared to be a very fast pace in the Howden Palace House Stakes, leading the stands' side group (high numbers) by three or four lengths at halfway.

Manaccan and Silky Wilkie led the far side group in the Group Three with the former, who was carrying a penalty, edging a long way across the track as he came under pressure in the closing stages.

That didn't stop him from going forwards but he still couldn't catch Live In The Dream who ran straight and true but there was heartbreak in store for Adam West's charge as Vadream (7/1) flashed home close to the stands' side rail.

A confirmed hold-up performer who won on heavy ground at Doncaster at the start of April, she came home with a wet sail to win by half-a-length.

Manaccan held on for third, a length behind Live In The Dream, with Raasel and Silky Wilkie in fourth and fifth.

"She's 10 lbs better in those conditions," said jockey Kieran Shoemark. "The rain came just at the right time.

"She didn't travel quite as well as she did in the Cammidge (at Doncaster) but she's a classy filly, she's had a very busy 2023 already but she seems to be thriving. I'm glad she's back."

Trainer Charlie Fellowes was delighted with the inclement weather, saying: "I'd be lying if I was saying I wasn't delighted when the rain came last night and then more this morning; she just loves it.

"She's a very good filly but she has to have her conditions and she got them today.

"We'll just run her where the conditions are right, she's very clearly best on good to soft or softer and when she gets her conditions she's going to be very dangerous in whatever race she turns up in."

West has ambitious plans for his stable star with his sights on a trip to America; he said: “It was a very brave run and he accredited himself to what ability we thought he had.

"We probably had five or six millimetres too much rain otherwise they would have never have seen him. I’m very confident he can now operate at pattern race level on a regular basis. If he comes out of this well enough, as he does give it his all, the Temple Stakes at Haydock Park would be the thought.

“He would then have a bit of a holiday before going to Del Mar. There is a Grade Three out there in September and it is a turning track and I think his gate speed would compete with some of the best out there. If we could get out there and be in the mix it would be amazing for them.”

John Ryan, trainer of Manaccan, thought they were undone by the draw.

“I think the draw killed us really," he said. "If we were drawn over that side yesterday we would have been delighted with it but today they have come over and he has had no company and he has had to do it the hard way. He has jumped out well and there was nothing good enough to go with him over there.

“Luckily Frankie used his head and saw where the advantage was and came across but he has probably given up four lengths in doing that and he had to give them weight on ground that wouldn’t be ideal. He handles soft ground but he is better on fast ground and this sort of ground tests your fitness first time out. I think we will go to the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot now as I think that is the right race to go. York would come too soon so we will go to Ascot. He likes Ascot as he has won there a few times so let’s go there where he is good. With a bit of luck he should be in the mix there and he deserves to take his chance against that company.”

Fox not for catching

Teumessias Fox (10/3 favourite) ran out a convincing winner of the Howden Handicap in steady rain at Newmarket on Saturday.

Settled in behind the lead by Oisin Murphy, Teumessias Fox always looked to be travelling well as Murphy eased his mount out to challenge the long-term leader Crystal Delight.

The two put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack but it didn't take long for Teumessias Fox to master Crystal Delight who only just held on for second from the strong finishing Raymond Tusk.

It was a third career victory for the Andrew Balding-trained winner who is two from two this season having been gelded over the winter.

The winning margin was three and a quarter lengths.

The going was changed after the first race from good to good to soft.

Murphy told Racing TV: "This is my first winner at Newmarket since I've been back, it took me a while, so thanks to Andrew and everyone at Park House. It's a very important racecourse with so many stallion making races and pattern races and I hadn't been able to get on the scoresheet."

Asked whether there was any track bias with the field having split, but only fractionally, into two groups, Murphy responded: "The going stick says we should be up the centre.

"I ended up far side because I needed to get cover behind something and the only way I could get perfect cover off was Jim Crowley (rider of Crystal Delight) so I had to go over there."

The winning trainer said: “He lost his way a little last year. He was gelded before his break and we found that he wants his races spaced out.

“Hopefully he can keep on progressing and hopefully he doesn’t go up too much so he can get into one of the Ascot handicaps. I’d have thought it would be a mile and a half but we’ll probably put him in the Copper Horse as well.”

William Jarvis, trainer of Crystal Delight, is also hoping the handicapper will show clemency, saying: "He has run a really nice race but has just come up against another good horse. He has now been second in three valuable prizes. He is a very nice horse and there is a big prize in him.

"We might have a look at the Jorvik Handicap at York. I’ll have a word with Jim and see what he thinks. Jim said he was happy on that ground. He will win a nice race. Hopefully the handicapper shouldn’t be too tough on him.”

Azure Blue shines on reappearance

Azure Blue (7/2 joint-favourite) carried on from where she left off when winning the Howden British EBF Ellen Chaloner Stakes (The Kilvington Stakes).

Michael Dods' filly won four times in 2022 with the first of those successes coming from a mark of 77 and the last, on her final start, in a Listed race when rated 94.

Returning to action at the same level but with a penalty for that win in the autumn, Azure Blue broke well for Paul Mulrennan who buried her in the middle of the main group. She moved through to challenge for the lead passing the two furlong pole and kept on well with the field spread across the wide expanse of the Rowley Mile.

Heredia, the other joint-favourite, and Perdita came home well from off the pace but the line came too soon for that pair with the winning distances half a length and three quarters of a length.

"She's a lovely filly, travelled like a dream all the way," Mulrennan told ITV Racing.

"I got there a week too soon though!

"She's taken a good blow, she'll improve a fair bit from today. She's the real deal this filly.

"Today is the first time she's ever broke on terms and she travelled very sweet, she's taken a good blow with me. She's over 500 kilos this filly, she's like a colt, she has done very well over the winter.

"I leave all that (race planning) to Michael Dods, I just do the pointing, but she surprised me with how much sharper she has got, she has got a lot faster compared to the winter.

"I would call it soft ground, it rode that way to me anyway, but they're getting through it."

Peter Appleton, who owns Azure Blue along with Anne Elliott, said: “The worry was that perhaps she needed a bit more fitness on her side but there was a lot of improvement in her speaking to Michael beforehand. But we wanted to run her and get her going.

“She travelled nicely and, if anything, she hit the front a little bit too soon Paul said. She loves this course and she loves the uphill finish. She is some horse to look at as well. She is very good. She has been at Newmarket five times now and won one on the July Course and three times on the Rowley Mile.

“She is a bigger model and she is probably a bit stronger although she is quite a big filly anyway. We reckon there is a lot of improvement in her. We have to see how she comes out the race. It wouldn’t be (out of the question the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes). There is a programme for these sprinters and you have to follow the pattern.

“There is the Cecil Frail after this as another Listed race. She is not in at Royal Ascot because you would have had to see what happened today (before looking at that). If things went the right way and depending upon closing entries there is a race here midsummer (July Cup). She is a nice filly and has plenty of speed but she finishes well. She is winning over six (furlongs) though so why change.”

Richard Hannon, trainer of the runner-up Heredia, said: “I’m delighted. We never really got her back since Royal Ascot last year and she obviously had a harder race there than we thought. She came back this year in great nick and I thought she was working better and that we had her back to her best. She is and we can look forward to some lovely races this year over seven furlongs and a mile.

“We went for six today just because this was her first run. I’d love to see her run in a Falmouth. Ascot is a big draw and there’s a race at Epsom that cuts up sometimes – the Surrey Stakes over seven furlongs – so we’ve got plenty of options.”

George Boughey, trainer of Perdika (8/1), said: “She gave a good account of herself, she’s a tough filly and she handles soft ground better than I thought she would. She’s probably at the end of her tether over six furlongs, there’s a Group 3 in France in a couple of weeks’ time (Prix Texanita) and that’s probably where we’ll see her next. She’s very tough, that was her 13th run since September so we’ll press on for as long as she’s running well.”

Probe upsets Chairman

Probe (15/2) hit his stride light to deny the well-backed Chairmanoftheboard in the heritage Howden Handicap.

The field were spread across the track in the six furlong contest with Chairmanoftheboard having taken up the running from Gis A Sub inside the final two furlongs when towards the far side.

Chairmanoftheboard edged back towards the stands' side and Leap Abroad as they hit the rising ground and continued to respond to his rider's urgings but he had no answer to the late challenge of Probe who hit the line strongly under Kieran O'Neill.

The winner, trained by Jennie Candlish, scored by a length and a quarter and made it two wins from three starts for the yard having formerly been in the care of Dermot Weld.

Apollo One, ridden by Mulrennan, was a fast-finishing third with Leap Abroad fourth, Raatea fifth, Strike Red sixth and Admiral D seventh in a race where several bookmakers paid extra places.

O'Neill said: "He loved that ground. I was probably a little bit further back than ideal but I picked up in the ground nicely and he won a bit snug in the end.

"I don't know if he needs it this deep but he does want to get his toe in a little bit. I think I travelled away very strongly and just steadied him a bit longer than usual then we hit that rising ground, he hit the line very strong.

"I think by the Guineas, in an hour and a half, it will be soft."

Candlish was not present on the Rowley Mile but her partner and assistant trainer Alan O’Keeffe was and he said: "He's a straightforward horse and Jennie's done a great job getting his head right. We learnt the last time here that we probably got there a bit soon. We waited a bit longer today and the rain has helped. I'm really pleased as he's a proper horse and to have a winner here on 2,000 Guineas day is brilliant.

“The owner (John Marriott) is a good supporter of the yard so it’s great for him and it’s great for a yard like us. We were slightly concerned about the draw but we thought the conditions would help us and we thought he was better than his rating.”

Jack Channon, trainer of the runner-up, is looking forward to Royal Ascot: “We will look at the Wokingham now, ground permitting, and I’d imagine we will go straight there as I’d like to protect his mark as much as I can. We will be looking at races like the Wokingham and Stewards’ Cup with him, if they come up soft.

"He has run a stormer. He is not un-geniune but we put the cheek pieces on just to try and sweeten him up. He has travelled beautifully and picked up well and hit the front but the winner has really finished fast past him. He is a cracking older horse and one day he will get his head in front in one of these. ”

King crowned at Newmarket

Always to the fore, King Of Conquest (7/1) ran on strongly to deny Saga (8/1) - owned by the newly crowned King and Queen - and Notre Belle Bete (25/1) in the Howden Suffolk Stakes.

A competitive renewal of the nine furlong handicap included last year's Cambridgeshire winner but victory went the way of the progressive Godolphin gelding who took his career record to four wins from eight starts.

The field raced down the centre of the track with Titian foremost and King Of Conquest had to work to master the front-runner with challengers poised behind and to his left. There was a little scrimmaging in-behind but that was of no concern to William Buick as he kicked for home aboard the eventual winner.

Saga, who narrowly missed out in a Royal Ascot handicap last season, enjoyed little fortune again, flying home to snatch second in first time cheekpieces with Notre Belle Bete, out on the stands' side flank, also coming home well in third.

Outsiders Toshizou and Dutch Decoy were the next two across the line.

There was a further going change after the race with the official description changed to 'soft' from good to soft.

"I didn't get the memo right there did I?" joked Buick.

"I didn't know it was Frankie (Dettori, jockey of Saga) until very late on but this horse really stuck his neck out and it's tough going out there, it's testing ground and he stuck to his guns.

"He looked a promising two-year-old, he's been to Dubai and back and a few other things so I'm very pleased with him.

"It's definitely soft ground now, it's going to be a bit of a war of attrition (in the 2000 Guineas) I think."

Charlie Appleby, trainer of the winner, said: “It was a good return. He is a horse that ran well down in soft ground when he finished second. We took him out to Bahrain and when he won Richie (Mullen) said he hated the ground and he said he won because he was the best horse in the race on the day.

“He said he was crying out to step up in trip. Today was always the plan to be positive on him. We were proven in the ground so I was confident on that front and I was confident the way William was going to ride him that they would have to outstay him so it was a great ride by William and it is nice to have a winner on the day.

“Horses are picking up (in the ground) and Saga picked up but it is just harder work in that ground today. I don’t want to sit on the fence but we hadn’t really planned beyond this to be honest. I’d say he is a nice work in progress handicapper. He would have to improve a good bit to be a black type horse. He will get a mile two and he might even get a bit further.”

Saga was beaten a head at the line and Dettori said: “Almost! He ran a super race, I couldn’t go when I wanted to and William got a couple of lengths on me, but God he ran a super race.

“Oh yes (it was a thrill to wear these colours). I watched the whole thing (coronation) this morning, it was pretty special wasn’t it? I know I’m old, but I’ve not seen one before!”

Gosden said: “He ran great. It wasn’t his fault, he didn’t get the gap in time. William (Buick) got first run (on King Of Conquest) and we had to wait to get through and then he ran out of real estate at the end, but he ran a super race.

“He was slightly unfortunate not to get there but it’s nobody’s fault, that’s racing. We’ll probably step up to a mile and a quarter and take it from there.”

Harry Davies, jockey of the third, was also left dreaming of what might have been, saying: "He felt like the winner a furlong from home and I think the thing that beat him was probably the draw. He didn’t have the right horses to aim at but he’s got the right attitude and I’m sure he’ll go on to better things. The ground going soft has probably helped him and he travelled very well throughout the race.”

Shaq attack and Moore joy

Julie Camacho saddled Raatea to run a good fifth earlier on the card but went several places better in the Howden Insurance Handicap as Shaquille (11/4) ran out a convincing winner to make it four wins in five career starts.

Coincidentally, the only defeat came in the Acomb Stakes at York, a race which was won by Chaldean who just minutes previously had blitzed the field in the 2000 Guineas under Dettori.

The field, with the exception of Chasseral, raced towards the stands' side and they were well strung out entering the final third of the race with the result never looking in doubt.

Shaquille ran out a dominant winner under James Doyle, finishing almost three lengths clear of Washington Heights.

Doyle said: "It went perfect, just the early part of the race when Clive Cox's runner kind of kicked forward and went across me, obviously making a beeline for this stands' rail and it just had me in a bit of a tricky position as I was just on his quarters and it just meant I was fighting him rather than dropping my hands on his neck and being neutral on him.

"I thought he did pretty well, not many horses can tank for four furlongs and show a good kick out the other side of it and hit the line pretty strong so he has to be held in fairly high regard.

"The way he galloped out after the line would suggest that seven furlongs would be fine but you know another furlong can be run at a stride slower and if he was the way he was today, it would prove difficult but different scenarios, you never know I suppose."

There may well have been a mix of pride and frustration for Oliver and Paul Cole after Royal Scotsman's fine run in the 2000 Guineas but their day ended on a high with Yacowlef (7/2) winning the Howden Bloodstock "Confined" Handicap.

The top-weight had to work hard for Ryan Moore with 7/4 favourite Striking Star a persistent challenger. It briefly looked as though Striking Star was going to wear his rival down but as soon as he got to Yacowlef's quarters, the leader pulled out more; half a length separated them at the line.

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